Fans and mediots need to embrace the simple fact that these things never get done until they have to get done and they never have to get done yesterday whatever it takes. It always takes at least two entities willing to acknowledge a middle ground even exists. And hardliners on either side will always fight that concept until the rank and file within each group has had enough. One thing this league has focused on is getting deals that work for them over the long haul and extending the process into the 8-10 year range as opposed to the standard 6 year term that always seems to have someone threatening to blow it all up every time fans turn around.
MLB caved long ago and you see what that has resulted in. The NBA keeps caving as half it's teams are teeter on the verge of bancrupcy. The NHL is locked out again. And nobody pays them a whole lot of mind until playoff time rolls around. The NFL is 24/7 approaching 365...even though they only actually play games in 20 weeks out of 52.